Improvement in shoe-tips



J. W. HYATT.

Shoe-Tip.

Patented May 21, 1878.

MPETERS, PNOTO-LITHOGRAPMER. WASHINGTOIN. D c.

UNITED STATES PATENT QFFIGE.

JOHN W: HYATT, OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGN OR TO THE OELLULOID MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF NEW YORK.

IMPROVEMENT IN SHOE-TIPS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 203,834., dated May 21, 18787 application filed March 25, 1878.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN W. HYATT, of Newark, in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Shoe-Tips, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

The invention relates to an improved shoetip; and consists in a piece of flexible celluloid, which is caused to adhere to the toe of the shoe without the aid of sewing, and without beinginterposed between the sole and the upper.

The purpose of the invention is to afford a shoe-tip that, while closely adhering to the shoe, is bothWater-proof and entirely flexible, which tip may be applied without the use of dies or molds.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a perspective view of a shoe with the tip attached, and Fig. 2 is a detached plan view of the tip.

It is well known that many difl'erent varieties of devices have been employed for protecting the toes of boots and shoes, such as tips or plates of metal, rubber, hide, and other material; but these are all liable to many objections. Tfiius a metal plate cannot be made to closely adhere to the surface of the shoe, and is, moreover, too rigid for use in this connection. Rubber is too weak and perishable, and hideis not water-proof, and, moreover, becomes rigid and stiff when dried by heat after being dampened.

The invention inhand is intended to afford a shoe tip or protector that shall avoid the defects incident to the devices aforesaid, and is effected by forming the tip, in the manner specified, of flexible celluloid.

It is to be here noted that there are two varieties of celluloidthe rigid and the flexible. The former is not adapted to the purpose in hand, since it has to be molded, and produces a stiff inflexible tip. The flexible celluloid is the article employed, and which answers admirabl y in efl'ectin g the desired results.

In practice, a piece of flexible celluloid of the desired shape is cut from the sheet and secured in place over the toe of the shoe by means of any suitable cements, being pressed and retained in place until the adhesion is effected.

It is obvious that, as the celluloid is perfectly water-proof and entirely flexible, the desired result is accomplished by the above means, since the material adheres closely to the leather, and is practically a flexible covering thereof, yielding with it and ofiering no rigid resistance to pressure.

In the accompanying drawings, A represents a shoe provided with the tip of flexible celluloid B, which is shown detached in Fig. 2. The piece of flexible celluloid is, as aforesaid, secured simply by coating it on the end of the shoe with a suitable cement, pressing'the plate of celluloid securely down upon it, and there retaining it until it is secured in place.

I do not claim, broadly, a shoe-tip regardless of the material of which it is composed; nor do I claim a rigid plate of any material secured on the toe of a shoe for the purposes of protection; but

What I do claim as my invention, .and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

A boot or shoe provided with a flexible celluloid tip cemented to the upper and sole, all substantially as shown and described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing improvement in shoe-tips, as above described, I have hereunto set my hand this 5th day of March, 187 8.

JOHN W. HYATT. Witnesses:

SAMUEL S. TIFFANY, WILLIAM R. SANDS- 

